Everyone’s favorite dulce , chocolate, is running the show this week. In this episode, Jim and May cover the history and cultural origins of one of the world’s favorite foods. Links: Junajpu: Award-winning Guatemalan Chocolate con Chile Our Trip to Guatemala Mesoamerica Timeline History of Chocolate (Video in English) How Modern Chocolate is Made (Video in Spanish) Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you don’t miss a word Listen to an exte...
Sep 29, 2020•37 min•Ep. 25
Is it possible to learn a language in a month? Connor Grooms, the CEO of Baselang, certainly seems to think so. One of the programs his company offers was founded on the guarantee that you can go from “zero to conversational in one month.” Links: Get $10 off your first month of unlimited Spanish lessons with Baselang Connor’s Spanish in a Month Documentary Anki - Flashcards to Learn Spanish Mimic Method - Speak Like a Native Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcri...
Sep 22, 2020•38 min•Ep. 24
Ever heard of “El Grito?” Does “¡Viva México!” sound familiar? How about Miguel Hidalgo or “el Pípila?” Learn about these important figures in the history of Mexico’s Independence Day in this week’s episode. Links: [Video] “Guanajuato’s Silver Mining History” : https://youtu.be/SzfjTVKCanc Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you don’t miss a word Listen to an extended breakdown section in English going over the most important words and phr...
Sep 15, 2020•36 min•Ep. 23
Tuba, tejuino, tepache... These are just a few of some of the most refreshing drinks you can find in Colima, Mexico. Colima may be tiny, but it’s full of surprises. There’s a drink for everyone here and hope you get a chance to taste each of them. Links: “Traditional Drinks You’ve Never Heard of Before” Video Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you don’t miss a word Listen to an extended breakdown section in English going over the most imp...
Sep 08, 2020•34 min•Ep. 22
This week, Jim and May talk about the Spanish from the streets, not from textbooks. How people actually talk in everyday life is not the same as what you tend to find with traditional language study material. Mentioned in this episode: Episode 021 - Muletillas del Español What is the RAE: La Real Academia of Spain Episode 04: Neutral Spanish Radio Ambulante Spanish Podcast How to Order Food in Spanish Video Grocery Shopping in Spanish Video Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get t...
Sep 01, 2020•30 min•Ep. 21
Can you have an entire conversation without saying “um” or “like?” These words are examples of filler words, or muletillas , that people use all the time in order to organize their thoughts as they speak. It’s completely natural and learning how to use them in Spanish will actually help you sound more like a native! This week, Jim and May share popular filler words that are used throughout Latin America, and also words specific to certain countries. Links: Level up your Spanish with our Podcast ...
Aug 25, 2020•26 min•Ep. 20
Obviously, this year has been one for the history books. Both Jim and May check in with everyone this week to reflect on their journey through the pandemic and quarantine. They recognize that the ability to adapt is key in times like this, where the impact of COVID-19 has been felt in everyone’s life. Tune into this week’s episode to check out the details and more! Links: Our podcast on “COVID-19 and the Future of Travel” Spanish and Go: check out our YouTube channel Level up your Spanish with o...
Aug 18, 2020•32 min•Ep. 19
Birthday or block party? There’s always a reason to celebrate, especially in Mexico! This week, Jim and May run down the ways that set Mexican birthdays apart. From the music and food, to the piñatas and cake, check out the latest episode to see how everything goes down. Having just celebrated her birthday a few days ago, listen as May gets nostalgic and looks back on the very first birthday she can remember. She also sings some of the popular songs you typically hear at a Mexican party, includi...
Aug 11, 2020•37 min•Ep. 18
Burritos. Nachos. Chimichangas. Fajitas. Ever wonder where these dishes came from? Although a lot of Americans tend to think of these items as “Mexican food,” they are in a category of their own: Tex Mex. Find out this week what exactly brought the southern States and northern Mexico together in a way that resulted in its own regional cuisine. Links: Ep 13: La Comida Mexicana - Mexican Food : https://spanishandgo.com/podcast/mexican-food Learn about real authentic Mexican food. Hint: It’s not Do...
Aug 04, 2020•28 min•Ep. 17
When you hear people speaking Spanish, do you often hear them slip in any English words or words that sound just like something you’d say in English? Well, it’s probably code-switching you are hearing, which is the topic of the week! In this episode, Jim and May compare code-switching to “Spanglish” in order to teach us the difference. They in fact are very similar, but not quite the same. Links: Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you don...
Jul 28, 2020•30 min•Ep. 16
We all know that feeling when someone asks you a question in Spanish that you don’t understand. Or that feeling of anxiety when you want to say something, but you don’t know the words. The good news is, it doesn’t always have to be this way. But you have to take the necessary steps to get over your fear. And that is exactly what Jim and May break down in this episode. How to get over your fear of speaking Spanish. Listen to their struggles about getting over the fear of speaking, and get some so...
Jul 21, 2020•31 min•Ep. 15
This week Andrea from Spanishland School and the Españolistos podcast joins us to shed some light on the Spanish spoken in her country: Colombia. May and Andrea discuss regional differences and accents across Colombia, popular expressions, and even a few ways that this accent is different from those you’ll find in Mexico or Puerto Rico. Links: Check out Spanishland School In-depth explanation of “vos” in Colombia and other parts of Latin America Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership ...
Jul 14, 2020•33 min•Ep. 14
In this episode, we discuss everyone’s favorite topic: FOOD. Jim and May jump right into what authentic Mexican food is. They cover typical ingredients that you might already know: corn, chiles, avocado; and some that you might not think about like hominy, cactus, and pumpkin. Links: Breakdown of common Mexican food ingredients : https://www.asenzya.com/trending-flavors/authentic-mexican-ingredients/ How to Order Food in Spanish : https://spanishandgo.com/learn/how-to-order-a-meal-in-spanish Lev...
Jul 07, 2020•31 min•Ep. 13
What does it mean to be fluent in a language? How long does it take? In this episode, Jim and May dissect what it means to be fluent and how to get there. Jim goes into depth about his own journey and what methods he used to achieve fluency in less than 2 years. Links: State Department of Language Categories [VIDEO] How Jim learned Spanish [ARTICLE] How Madison (one of our writers) learned Spanish Margarita Madrigal’s Magic Key to Spanish Duolingo Support us on Patreon Level up your Spanish with...
Jun 30, 2020•34 min•Ep. 12
Have you heard the phrases “la carne de burro no es transparente” or “la suerte de la fea, la bonita la desea” before? Literally, the first one translates to “the donkey meat isn’t transparent,” and the other, “the ugly’s luck, the beautiful want.” But what do they truly mean? In this episode, Jim and May break down multiple Spanish idioms: common phrases that native speakers use that might be hard to understand for Spanish learners. Links: [VIDEO] 21 Must-Know Food Related Saying and Idioms Lev...
Jun 23, 2020•27 min•Ep. 11
This week, Ben and Marina from Notes in Spanish join Jim and May to talk about the differences between Spanish and culture in Mexico and Spain. Ben, an Englishman, and Marina, a Madrileña (from Madrid, Spain), started the first Spanish learning podcast back in 2006. Not only do they host an incredibly popular podcast, but their work also inspired Jim and May to start an online business. Needless to say, it's is a huge honor to have them on the podcast. In the episode, the two couples discuss the...
Jun 16, 2020•42 min•Ep. 10
In this episode, Jim and May talk about some of the biggest differences they've noticed between living in Mexico and Puerto Rico. Links: Why Is Puerto Rican Spanish so Hard? Level Up Your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you don’t miss a word Listen to an extended breakdown section in English going over the most important words and phrases Test your comprehension with a multiple choice quiz Thank you to our patrons for making this podcast possible: T...
Jun 09, 2020•34 min•Ep. 9
In this episode, Jim and May discuss the advantages and disadvantages of living the small town life in Mexico. Learn about the typical routine of people living in these pueblos , and how different the lifestyle can be from the big city. Links: Tradition Mexican Drinks You’ve Never Heard of Before Recorded in Comala, Colima Mexico Level Up Your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you don’t miss a word Listen to an extended breakdown section in English go...
Jun 02, 2020•39 min•Ep. 8
In this episode, Jim and May discuss how COVID-19 has made an impact in Puerto Rico and the world, and also how they predict it will affect the future of the tourism industry. They go into detail regarding the toque de queda , or curfew, placed on the streets of Puerto Rico from 7 pm- 5 am. The mission of Spanish and Go has always been bringing you closer to every Spanish speaking country in the world through videos and the podcast. And travel is necessary to make that happen. Obviously, COVID-1...
May 26, 2020•34 min•Ep. 7
Do you dread studying grammar, or do you embrace it? In this episode, Jim and May discuss whether or not grammar is necessary to learn a language. Listen as May describes the five stages of language acquisition so that you can identify the stage you are currently in. Jim explains so many key tools that he used in his Spanish learning journey, including Margarita Madrigal’s Magic Key to Spanish and his completion of one of Lingoda ’s Language Marathons (now Sprint) . Tune in to find out if the gr...
May 19, 2020•35 min•Ep. 6
Standing before the bus stops? The check at the restaurant never comes? In this episode, Jim and May talk about what cultural differences are and the ones that they have noticed between Mexico and the United States. Listen as they share stories of their experiences and interactions with each other’s cultures. They tackle differences in lifestyle, values, and even public transportation. Some things you might be familiar with, but others are sure to surprise you. Links: Culture Shock MX vs US: A f...
May 12, 2020•35 min•Ep. 5
In this episode, Jim and May discuss the concept of “neutral Spanish.” Does it exist? Who speaks it? Do some countries have a more neutral accent than others? Find out here. Links: Related BBC Video Level Up Your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you don’t miss a word Listen to an extended breakdown section in English going over the most important words and phrases Test your comprehension with a multiple choice quiz Thank you to our patrons for making...
May 05, 2020•32 min•Ep. 4
In this episode, Jim and May talk about Mexico’s Pueblos Magicos. What they are, their differences and similarities, some advantages and disadvantages of the Pueblos Magicos Program, and cultural aspects of life in these towns. Links: Support Us on Patreon Level Up Your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you don’t miss a word Listen to an extended breakdown section in English going over the most important words and phrases Test your comprehension with ...
Apr 28, 2020•31 min•Ep. 3
In this episode, Jim shares some of his tips on what to do when a Spanish native speaker only talks to you in English. Listen in to practice your Spanish, and get even more tips so that you know what to do when you find yourself in a similar situation. Links: The Bioluminescent Bay at Mosquito Bay in Vieques, Puerto Rico Level Up Your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you don’t miss a word Listen to an extended breakdown section in English going over ...
Apr 21, 2020•31 min•Ep. 2
In this episode, Jim and May talk about how it all started. May is a teacher with a bachelor’s degree in Foreign Languages Education. She was born in Manzanillo, a small port city of the state of Colima in Mexico. When May had just graduated from college she was looking for a way to keep practicing her English and improving her pronunciation. A friend told her about a website where she could do just that. Jim is a gringo with a passion for adventure. Born in Rochester, Minnesota. Jim is an audio...
Apr 14, 2020•26 min•Ep. 1
Welcome to the Learn Spanish and Go podcast! In this episode, we talk about who this podcast is for, what topics we'll cover, and how to get the most out of each episode. Sign up for our Podcast Membership here ! Follow us on social media to stay connected and up to date about new episodes @SpanishandGo. Links: Support us on Patreon Level Up Your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Thank you to our patrons for making this podcast possible: Tiansheng Lian, Jennifer Wilson, Nicolas Romano, Rajano ...
Apr 07, 2020•7 min
